BUILDING AND HOMES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 15, 12 October 1927, Page 19

BUILDING AND HOMES

(by

JACK PLANE)

COLOURED CONCRETE SOME USEFUL APPLICATIONS A NEGLECTED MATERIAL The colouring of concrete, whether by the nse of pigments or by incorporating coloured pebbles, chips, or sand in the mixture, is an excellent means of obtaining pleasing effects, not only in buildings, large and small, but in such things as garden paths, gate-posts, and tennis courts. The following informative notes on the subject appeared recently in the “English and Amateur Mechanic”:— The colouring of concrete has not yet received the attention it deserves. The very slight increase in cost incurred by a coloured cement finish cannot be regarded as a deterrent, as it is negligible compared with the effect gained—and, in many cases, with the total cost of the job. It is not meant, of course, as the heading perhaps implies, that the coloured cement be used throughout the concrete mass, a method which would be not only expensive but troublesome in many ways, but that a finish consisting of, say, three parts suitable aggregate to one part coloured cement, should be applied as a rendering. Cement manufacturers have spent a great deal of time making laboratory tests to ascertain the effects of the added colouring matter on the cement. The test results were perfectly satisfactory, and cements of varied hues are obtainable, these being equal in strength, and rate of setting—this latter an important point—to the ordinary best quality Portland cements. It is to be hoped and can be said with a degree of certainty, that in the near future colour will play a large part in concrete work, not only in precast work, such as garden tubs, steps, flags, window sills, etc., but also in large structures.

Bridges, a large and increasing number of which are now of reinforced concrete. in most cases give excellent opportunities for the effective introduction of colour schemes, as a bridge, although competent design architecturally, does not always please the eye to effect—owing to its apparent unwillingness to blend with -the surroundings. An effort to obviate this defect has been made by the Cumberland C.C., and they .have just completed a bridge which was coloured pink, to harmonise with a house nearby. This colouring, however, was not obtained by using a coloured cement finish, but by the use of a percentage of Pink Shap Granite and Bowscar Red Sand for the concrete aggregate. Special tests were made which showed that no injuridus effects resulted from the use of ths aggregate. Many tennis courts are being laid with coloured finishes—a green tone gives a pleasing appearance, and a combination of grass and hard court is made possible for the tennis player, who would, it must be hastened to add, have to bring his imagination into full play. The application of colour to housing schemes is a move which should be specially welcomed. The - London C.C. have instigated a “brighter housing experiment” and bright colours are being used on the County Council’s Becontree Housing Estate. The Welwyn Garden City owes much of its attractiveness to the use of external coloured finishes, and the garishness common to many housing schemes is not present. A novel use of black and white cements on a house was made in the imitating of black and white timber-work, a successful imitation which gave additional satisfaction as it would, of course, not rot.

The eye strains and discomforts caused by the sun rays shining' on a surface which adds to, rather than detracts from the glare is well known to seaside visitors.

School playgrounds and park terraces are often at fault in this respect. It is obvious that the use of the cool tone that would minimise the glare would be beneficial. Perhaps our wonderful climate has not encouraged thought in this direction.

The handyman would find some of his spare time very interestingly and profitably spent, making small, precast work for his garden, the simplicity with which concrete ..can be moulded putting this work well within his grasp. The addition of a coloured finish to his garden path, edging to suit, garden tubs, etc., would amply repay him for his trouble, especially when he contem-

plates that the strength of concrete increases with age. A word of warning is necessary, however. Reasonable care must be taken in the mixing, an equal amount of water being used in each batch, otherwise there is a danger of a patchy sur ? face resulting. As a last word, it is to be hoped that the choosing of colours will not get into the wrong hands, as not all of us are imbued with well developed coloured sense, and the indiscriminate choice of colours would only prejudice their use.

STRAY NOTES MODERN LINOLEUM Once upon a time it would have been considered impossible that linoleum should charm the eye. It was a thing of utility in kitchens and bathrooms and an ugly necessity in other rooms when you could not afford carpets. But in competition with all kinds of other floor coverings, linoleum has been improved so much that nowadays one bus's it from choice. Bad design and crude colouring have given place to the soft veinings of marble and the deep tones of Persian rugs. They copy so well the things they set out to imitate that from the distance it is almost impossible that they are not what they seem. That is why marble linoleum is becoming a favourite covering for walls. It gives the beautiful effect at the minimum of cost and at the same time provides a hygienic surface, easih- cleaned and practically impervious to atmosphere and dirt. . The linoleum used for this purpose is of a specially thin variety that “hangs”

well and may be had in plain and shaded colours as well as in the marbled effects. If your rooms are small you thus can create an illusion of greater space by covering walls and floor to match with a light hue, and reiving upon rugs and hangings for the introduction of contrast.

Then linoleum so closely represents the beauty of various woods in parquet flooring that the linoleum, which can be highly polished, is an excellent substitute for the wood blocks which are naturally more expensive. Where there is a good deal of hard wear, the special “tiled” linoleum which represents old-fashioned red tiles has special advantage. It not only charms the eye, but being a mixture of rubber and cork is warm and quiet in use. Each tile is actually separate, the space between being filled with a special cement. This also is advantageous, for it permits shabby or worn pieces to be cut out and patched so that the repair is invisible.

But if you dislike mere imitation, then there is an endless choice of linoleums that are quite original in design and conception. Naturally, an inlaid linoleum lasts longest, but nowadays the printed varities are of such good and lasting qualities that no doubt need be entertained about the wisdom of buying them. Bear in mind that a .good printed linoleum has a comparatively dull surface. A high degree of varnish on the patterned parts betrays the cheaper qualities. MOUNTING PICTURES In the illustrated papers one frequently finds reproductions of etchings, water colours, etc., well worth framing, except that there is too little white margin, and often unwanted letterpress at the top and bottom. It is first of all necessary to cut the pictures out, and for this a steel-edged ruler and a really sharp knife, or, better still, an old safety razor blade, are needed. The cutting is best done on a thick pad of old newspaper. Lav the ruler over the picture and cut all the margin away. When cutting it is preferable to hold the blade so that the back of it leans away from you, cutting the paper not squarely, but with a bevel on the underside. Do not press too hard with the knife or the paper will tear. It is best to practise with one of two cuts in the margin first. The mounting is done on thick cartridge paper. If one looks at a real print it will be seen that the picture lies in a recessed tablet, which is about I of an inch larger on each side than the picture. This cnn very well be imitated, and gives a good finish to the mount. Cut a piece of cart-

ridge paper to the size yon require, and, laying the cut picture on it, mark lightly with a pencil where you want the corner of your recess to come. Put the paper on a pad of newspapers, and lay the ruler along the dots, on .he outside of the part to be recessed, then, with' an ordinary toilet orange stick, draw in the edge of the recess, using the stick like a pencil, but be careful that the lines only just meet at the comers, and do not cross. Go over each line several times, but do not press so hard as to raise the surface of the paper Then press the paper down on the inner edge of the lines, using the orange stick as a modelling tool, and go right round the square several times, and, if necessary, rule along each side again. If you make a mistake, the paper may be turned over and pressed back. The mounting of the pictur ■. on the paper in the centre of the recess should be done with fine paste, applied with a soft brush. Lay the picture face downwards on another piece of paper, and coat the whole of the back as thinly as possible with paste, paying special attention to the edges. Then stick it to the mount and rub firmly from the centre to the edges with a piece of soft rag to remove air bubbles and make the picture and mount adhere to one another perfectly. The picture should have been so thinly pasted that no paste oozes from the edges, and if it has been cut ont with a bevel, as advised, it should now show no edge An easy way of framing such pictures is with passe partout edging, but it may be thought better to use a proper wooden frame, and a narrow black moulding goes well with a wide white border. If an orange stick is not available a leather modelling tool could be used or the end of a pointed penhoder could be cut and scraped down. What is required is a flattened-rounded point, coming from a rod about one-tighth' of an inch in diameter. THE LOW-CEILINGED ROOM Low ceilings are undoubtedly picturesque in theory, but when it comes to living beneath them they are not quite so attractive—that is, unless special attention has been given to the decoiations of the room. The decorations of a low-ceilinged room should invariably be light in colour and simple in design. All over patterned papers and hangings should be avoided; even small designs will emphasise the lack of height, and give you the feeling of living in a box with the lid shut down. If you do not care for entirely plain wall surfaces, then choose a paper with a narrow stripe, and let it run right up to the ceiling, instead of cutting it off short with a frieze. In the case of a bedroom that perhaps also has a sloping roof, there is nothing so successful as plain cream distemper, which is also used for the ceiling, so that it and. the walls merge, and an illusion of height is created. Pictures are generally taboo in such a room, but if they are included they must be very small and full of colour. Woodcuts of flowers,'such as are. now very fashionabe, are the best choice. Lamps havo become very lovely. In the newly-decorated houses you will see the latest type—a glass bowl full of water and in it a jar rather like those coloured glass bottles in chemists’ windows that intrigued us so as children. Tills is the lamp, and when lit the light falls on the water.